There's a war on the horizon to invade your living room. The main marauders will be none other than Google
Big G and Cupertino are undoubtedly arming their forces as we speak, although their flanking strategies will differ. Apple will predictably go with a fully integrated approach like an Apple TV set, which CBS
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google is prepping its foray into the paid-cable-TV service market. The company previously announced a project to offer high-speed Internet service, starting in Kansas City. Kan., and its neighboring city in Missouri.
The gigabit fiber network would have 10 times the potential speed capabilities of current networks, and throwing in phone, courtesy of Google Voice, and TV service would round out the offering to compete with AT&T Uverse, Time Warner's Road Runner, or Verizon
Google is supposedly in talks with media titans such as Walt Disney
Google's been trying to upgrade YouTube into a premium offering for a while, and it would probably play a role in the encore after the initial failed attempt. Don't forget that soon-to-be subsidiary Motorola Mobility
Google has all the pieces of the puzzle lined up; the real question is whether it can stitch them all together into a cohesive and compelling value proposition to all the interested parties. It's a massive $150 billion industry to disrupt, when you include all the spending from advertisers and monthly fees that consumers fork over.
It will have to somehow juggle the interests of content providers, advertisers, and consumers while the incumbents fight with all their might to maintain the status quo, all while Apple gears up its own advances.
The battle will be bloody, and there will be casualties. Who do you think will win? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Add Google and Apple to your Watchlist to see who wins this war.